VA SHORE: Man cheers, then cries, after jury clears him of rape charge

Oct. 14, 2013

Written by

Nancy Drury Duncan

Staff Writer

EASTVILLE — A jury on Friday acquitted a Northampton County man of a charge of raping the mother of the woman he married several weeks later.

Korey Taylor, 33, of Eastville jumped from his chair and began clapping his hands in Northampton Circuit Court after the verdict was read.

After being told to sit down, Taylor put his head down on the desk and began to sob.

Because he is on probation for his conviction for a 2010 felony sex offense involving a juvenile, according to court records, he faced possible life in prison if convicted in this case.

Defense attorney Eric Korslund told the court the victim accused Taylor because she did not want her daughter to marry him. The couple had been together for 14 years and had three children.

“She had an enormous motive to fabricate. This case is about a fabrication to split up a wedding,” he said.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Beverly Leatherbury described the evidence against him as “overwhelming.” She referenced DNA evidence that linked Taylor to the crime and “injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.”

Police officers testified the 58-eight-year-old alleged victim appeared upset and disheveled when they arrived at her home after the alleged incident.

She told them she had a migraine headache earlier that day and took a medication containing codeine. She went into her bedroom to lie down.

She said Taylor was at her house because she called him earlier and asked him to do a errand for her. She testified he asked if he could stay and watch television while she rested.

The woman said she awoke to great pain and found Taylor raping her. She testified she pushed him off and ran into her bathroom and locked the door.

When she was sure he was gone, she said she called her husband, son and daughter — although she said she did not want to tell her daughter what happened for fear her daughter would keep her from her grandchildren.

Her husband, from whom she is separated, insisted she call the police and report the crime.

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A sexual assault nurse examiner at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital testified that the woman suffered trauma and bleeding consistent with a violent sexual crime.

“My findings were consistent with her story of events,” the nurse told the court.

Taylor was arrested that night and taken to the same hospital, where samples were collected from his genital area to be tested for DNA.

Gloria Hill, a forensic scientist, testified she examined the samples from the suspect and said the alleged victim’s DNA was found on the swab taken from Taylor’s genital area.

None of his DNA was found on the victim, Hill said.

A counselor working with the Eastern Shore Community Services Board testified the complainant was her patient and is being treated for post traumatic stress syndrome.

Korslund said the woman’s story included “inconsistencies.”

He talked about a photo the woman admitted she took of her breasts. She said she did it to show her doctor a rash she had there.

Korslund said she sent that photo to Taylor and was actively trying to seduce the man who is now married to her daughter.

Korslund noted the woman did not call 911 immediately and he played the tape of her call. She did not sound upset when she called to report she had been raped, he said